Amit Kshatriya is an Indian-American space executive who serves as **associate administrator of NASA**, the agency's highest-ranking civil servant position.[2] Announced in September 2025, this appointment places him at the helm of NASA's day-to-day operations and long-term strategy, overseeing the agency's ten center directors and mission directorate associate administrators while serving as chief operating officer and senior advisor to Administrator Sean Duffy.[1][3] Kshatriya joined NASA in 2003 and has built a distinguished 20-year career spanning multiple critical roles.[1] He began as a software engineer and robotics engineer focused on the International Space Station's robotic assembly.[4] From 2014 to 2017, he served as an ISS flight director and lead flight director for Expedition 50, earning NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal for this achievement.[2] He also received the Silver Snoopy Award from astronauts for his work as lead robotics officer during the SpaceX Dragon demonstration mission, recognizing his contributions to crew safety.[1] Most recently, before his promotion, Kshatriya served as deputy associate administrator for the Moon to Mars Program within NASA's Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, where he oversaw program planning and implementation for the Artemis campaign.[3] In this role, he played a central role in developing strategies for returning astronauts to the Moon and preparing for humanity's first Mars mission.[1] Born in Brookfield, Wisconsin, to Indian immigrant parents, Kshatriya earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the California Institute of Technology and a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin.[2][5] He is one of approximately 100 people in history to serve as a mission control flight director, a position demanding exceptional technical precision and decisive leadership.[1] His appointment reflects NASA's strategic focus on making the Artemis program central to its mission while strengthening partnerships with the commercial space industry.[1]